Kumanu and ProMedica Co-launch Solution To Help Employers Identify and Address Employees Unmet Social and Economic Needs

Kumanu, a leading purpose-centered well-being technology firm, in partnership with ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit integrated health and well-being organization, announced today the launch of a new employer-focused solution Resourceful. Powered by Kumanu’s PurposeCloud™ platform, Resourceful supports employers by addressing unrecognized Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) issues that can have a profound impact on employees’ quality of life and work.

SDOH are social and economic factors that are often root causes of employee health issues, lost productivity, and reduced engagement. SDOH directly impacts nearly one-third of all working Americans, according to a national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of ProMedica and Kumanu in December 2020.

Factors such as food insecurity, financial stress, housing insecurity, childcare or eldercare struggles, emotional well-being, and a lack of reliable transportation along with behaviors account for over 70% of health outcomes, according to the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. A ProMedica/Harris Poll survey conducted in December 2020 revealed that 24% of full-time workers in the U.S. had experienced food insecurity issues and 20% of respondents were worried about stable housing, and 27% said they were experiencing childcare challenges.

“Unmet employee needs related to Social Determinants of Health can have a significant impact on health and business outcomes,” said Randy Oostra, president and chief executive officer of ProMedica. “ProMedica’s decade-long experience in this area demonstrates that by effectively addressing SDOH needs, employers can help improve quality of life for employees while better positioning their companies for future success.”

Until now, employers have lacked practical solutions to assess these unrecognized risk factors – and, more importantly, meaningful solutions to address them. Resourceful empowers employers that want to demonstrate empathy and care for their employees by identifying unmet needs and by providing appropriate, accessible resources to address them.

Resourceful is a customizable platform designed for employers to de-stigmatize these issues and fill critical SDOH gaps unmet by traditional employer benefits and wellness solutions. Resourceful identifies risk factors in an employer’s workforce and helps activate people with purpose and connect them with resources available at work, or in their community, confidentially.

By identifying and connecting employees to resources, Resourceful can strengthen individuals’ resilience to be better able to bring their best selves to work. Employers benefit when employees’ emotional well-being and essential needs are being addressed.

The ProMedica National Social Determinants of Health Institute and Kumanu's purpose experts will provide consultative services for employers and customize the Resourceful platform to each organization’s unique needs to enhance existing employer wellness programs.

“People are emotionally and physically burned out and are struggling in many ways. The current mix of employer well-being solutions is falling short and fails to identify all of the factors that cause people hardship,” said Vic Strecher, Ph.D., Kumanu founder and CEO. “For the first time, Resourceful empowers employers to address essential needs and improve their employees’ sense of dignity by addressing the unmet SDOH needs and providing stigma-free, technology-driven access to resources.”

To start supporting your employees with Resourceful, visit us at kumanu.com/resourceful/.